Vehicle struck by train near Tularosa

A vehicle was struck by a northbound train near Tularosa Saturday, but the driver was able to leave the scene and returned a while later.

Emergency personnel searched a stretch of railway, moving roughly from Snake Tank Road to as far south as Tularosa, never finding a collision or vehicle.

Otero County Emergency Services Director Paul Quaroli said the vehicle was hit by a train, but the driver was able to drive away and later returned to the area of the crash.

The train did suffer some minor damage, Quaroli said. He said the Otero County Sheriff's Office received a information at about 1:15 p.m. Saturday that a train from Union Pacific Railroad might have struck a vehicle at an ungated railroad crossing, possibly at Snake Tank Road, in between Three Rivers and Tularosa.

He said the investigation was being handled by New Mexico State Police, who couldn't be immediately reached for comment Saturday and whether the driver face any charges could not be verified. Quaroli said no one was injured.